In Clean Sweep Auctions’ highly anticipated premiere event of 2024, baseball enthusiasts and collectors are flocking to browse through an extensive collection of pre-War baseball cards and memorabilia. Among the highlights are two exceptionally rare T206 cards, which are highly coveted by vintage baseball collectors worldwide.
One of the notable offerings is a T206 Ray Demmitt card, graded SGC 2, and a Bill O’Hara card, graded SGC 1.5. Alongside these gems, the auction features a multitude of cards of Hall of Famers from the renowned “monster” set, prominently showcased in the online catalog prepared for this event.
Not to be overlooked is the spotlight on a Ty Cobb card, specifically the ‘bat on shoulder’ variant, with a Sovereign 350 back and a PSA 3 grading. Also commanding attention is an SGC Cy Young portrait card, graded SGC 4, making it a noteworthy addition to the listings.
A particularly rare highlight of the auction is a set of four M110 Sporting Life Cabinet cards from 1911. This set includes legendary baseball figures such as Honus Wagner, Frank Chance, Nap Lajoie, and Christy Mathewson. These cards hold immense value due to their scarcity, representing a limited number of surviving examples from this early venture into card production, dating back over a century.
Among the other significant cards up for bid is the 1887 Allen & Ginter Mike “King” Kelly card, graded SGC 5, the 1907 Dietsche Ty Cobb postcard with the name on the front variation, graded SGC 1, and a rare 1908 Rose Postcard showcasing Hall of Famer Addie Joss. Additionally, a collection of 1911 Turkey Red Cabinets includes cards of Walter Johnson, Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Rube Waddell, and Addie Joss.
The auction continues with key lots that will excite collectors, such as a 1921 Exhibit Babe Ruth card graded PSA 2, a 1928 Harrington’s Ice Cream Ruth card with an SGC 1.5 grade, a 1933 George C. Miller Dizzy Dean card graded SGC 3, and a pair of 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig cards (graded PSA 2 and SGC 3.5 respectively). Notably, a 1933 Goudey 149 Ruth card is rated SGC 5, a 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams rookie card holds an SGC 3 grade, and a 1948-49 Leaf Jackie Robinson RC is graded Beckett 2. The auction also features a PSA 9 graded 1950 Callahan set and rookie cards of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays from the 1951 Bowman collection. Moreover, there are a 1952 Berk Ross Mantle card graded PSA 3, a 1952 Bowman Mantle card with a PSA 5 grade, a 1954 Johnson Cookies Aaron RC graded PSA 7, and a 1958 Hires Root Beer with tab Willie Mays card, also graded PSA 7.
For collectors seeking complete sets, the auction offers the 1957 and 1967 Topps sets, with the latter featuring 90 graded cards.
The auction also showcases unique items like an autographed 1953 Bowman Color Mickey Mantle card, a PSA 8 graded Jackie Robinson signed Hall of Fame postcard, and a 1931 Yankees team signed baseball.
Enthusiasts of unopened material will find excitement in a 1988 Fleer basketball wax box and a 1986 Topps football rack box.
The event kicks off with an exceptional item fresh to the hobby: a 1939 Joe Cronin Boston Red Sox road flannel jersey, which has been rated a 9 by MEARS.
Additional items of interest include a series of Chicago Cubs signed team sets dating back to the 1950s, thirteen different Derek Jeter autographed cards (most signed before his MLB debut in the mid-1990s), and a Lou Gehrig autograph.
Basketball card collectors can look forward to finding two Bird/Magic rookies and two Michael Jordan rookies. The football section includes vintage sets, Tom Brady rookie cards, and a ticket from the famous 1958 “greatest game” between the Colts and the Giants.
To round out the auction, an array of baseball memorabilia is up for grabs, featuring 19th-century Chicago Cubs home scorecards, a 1906 Red Sox scorecard, a 1920 Who’s Who with Babe Ruth on the cover, numerous World Series items, a 1912 tabletop baseball game, an original telephone from Ebbets Field, tickets, pennants, and a high-grade set of Hartland statues.
Bidding for this extensive and impressive collection of baseball and sports memorabilia is scheduled to run through January 31st. Collectors and sports enthusiasts alike won’t want to miss the chance to acquire these rare and valuable pieces of baseball history.